RNA polymerase mutants of Escherichia coli. III. A temperature-sensitive rifampicin-resistant mutant

Allosteric modulation of the RNA polymerase catalytic reaction is an essential component of transcription control by rifamycins

Rifamycins, the clinically important antibiotics, target bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP). A proposed mechanism in which rifamycins sterically block the extension of nascent RNA beyond three nucleotides does not alone explain why certain RNAP mutations confer resistance to some but not other rifamycins. Here we show that unlike rifampicin and rifapentin, and contradictory to the steric model, rifabutin inhibits formation of the first and second phosphodiester bonds. We report 2.5 A resolution structures of rifabutin and rifapentin complexed with the Thermus thermophilus RNAP holoenzyme. The structures reveal functionally important distinct interactions of antibiotics with the initiation sigma factor. Strikingly, both complexes lack the catalytic Mg2+ ion observed in the apo-holoenzyme, whereas an increase in Mg2+ concentration confers resistance to rifamycins. We propose that a rifamycin-induced signal is transmitted over approximately 19 A to the RNAP active site to slow down catalysis. Based on structural predictions, we designed enzyme substitutions that apparently interrupt this allosteric signal.

Characterization of the pleiotropic phenotypes of rifampin-resistant rpoB mutants of Escherichia coli

We used our collection of 17 sequenced rifampin resistance alleles in rpoB to perform a systematic analysis of the phenotypes historically reported with this class of mutants, including growth phenotype, ability to support the growth of different bacteriophages, ability to maintain the F' episome, interaction with mutant alleles at other loci, sensitivity to uracil, inhibition by 5-fluorouridine, and dominance. We found that mutational changes leading to the same phenotype were often located together and that certain phenotypes were associated with one another.

Mapping and sequencing of mutations in the Escherichia coli rpoB gene that lead to rifampicin resistance

Rifampicin is an antibiotic that inhibits the function of RNA polymerase in eubacteria. Mutations affecting the beta subunit of RNA polymerase can confer resistance to rifampicin. A large number of rifampicin-resistant (hereafter called Rifr) mutants have been isolated in Escherichia coli to probe the involvement of RNA polymerase in a variety of physiological processes. We have undertaken a comprehensive analysis of Rifr mutations to identify their structural and functional effects on RNA polymerase. Forty-two Rifr isolates with a variety of phenotypes were mapped to defined intervals within the rpoB gene using a set of deletions of the rpoB gene. The mutations were sequenced. Seventeen mutational alterations affecting 14 amino acid residues were identified. These alleles are located in three distinct clusters in the center of the rpoB gene. We discuss the implications of our results with regards to the structure of the rifampicin binding site.

The roles of RNA polymerase and RNAase I in stable RNA degradation in Escherichia coli carrying the srnB+ gene

In Escherichia coli cells carrying the srnB+ gene of the F plasmid, rifampin, added at 42 degrees C, induces the extensive rapid degradation of the usually stable cellular RNA (Ohnishi, Y., (1975) Science 187, 257-258; Ohnishi, Y., Iguma, H., Ono, T., Nagaishi, H. and Clark, A.J. (1977) J. Bacteriol. 132, 784-789). We have studied further the necessity for rifampin and for high temperature in this degradation. Streptolydigin, another inhibitor of RNA polymerase, did not induce the RNA degradation. Moreover, the stable RNA of some strains in which RNA polymerase is temperature-sensitive did not degrade at the restrictive temperature in the absence of rifampin. These data suggest that rifampin has an essential role in the RNA degradation, possibly by the modification of RNA polymerase function. A protein (Mr 12 000) newly synthesized at 42 degrees C in the presence of rifampin appeared to be the product of the srnB+ gene that promoted the RNA degradation. In a mutant deficient in RNAase I, the extent of the RNA degradation induced by rifampin was greatly reduced. RNAase activity of cell-free crude extract from the RNA-degraded cells was temperature-dependent. The RNAase was purified as RNAase I in DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. Both in vivo and with purified RNAase I, a shift of the incubation mixture from 42 to 30 degrees C, or the addition of Mg2+ ions, stopped the RNA degradation. Thus, an effect on RNA polymerase seems to initiate the expression of the srnB+ gene and the activation of RNAase I, which is then responsible for the RNA degradation of E. coli cells carrying the srnB+ gene.

RNA polymerase mutant with altered sigma factor in Escherichia coli

A structural gene for sigma factor (rpoD) of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RNA nucleotidyltransferase; nucleoside-triphosphate: RNA nucleotidyltransferase, E.C. 2.7.7.6) was mapped precisely by a set of F' factors including those already published (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 74, 1831-1835 (1977)). Based on the result that rpoD is located at the dnaG-uxaAC region, a number of mutants containing a temperature-sensitive mutation at or near the uxaA gene were isolated by localized mutagenesis. One of these mutants was found to produce RNA polymerase altered in both thermostability and optimum salt concentration as a result of structural alteration of sigma factor. This mutation, U303, maps at 66 min on the genetic map of E. coli, near the dnaG locus, and affects normal growth of cells.

Physiological studies on a temperature-sensitive Escherichia coli mutant with an altered RNA polymerase beta'-subunit

Some in vivo properties of an Escherichia coli temperature-sensitive mutant (JE10092) with an altered RNA polymerase beta'-subunit are described. RNA synthesis, unlike many peviously isolated temperature-sensitive mutants, stops immediately after the shift to the nonpermissive temperature (43 degrees C). DNA synthesis, protein synthesis and nucleoside triphosphate formation continue after the shift. RNA synthesis is recovered immediately upon transfer to the permissive temperature (30 degrees C). The function of the beta'-subunit in genetic transcription is discussed.